How to become a Medical and Health Services Manager

Official title: Medical and Health Services Managers

Also called: Cancer Center Director, Clinical Director, Health Information Management Director (HIM Director), Health Information Manager (HIM Manager), Healthcare System Director, Medical Records Director, Medical Records Manager, Mental Health Program Manager, Nurse Manager, Nursing Director

Plan, direct, or coordinate medical and health services in hospitals, clinics, managed care organizations, public health agencies, or similar organizations.

Main tasks

• Direct, supervise and evaluate work activities of medical, nursing, technical, clerical, service, maintenance, and other personnel.
• Develop and maintain computerized record management systems to store and process data, such as personnel activities and information, and to produce reports.
• Plan, implement, and administer programs and services in a health care or medical facility, including personnel administration, training, and coordination of medical, nursing and physical plant staff.
• Conduct and administer fiscal operations, including accounting, planning budgets, authorizing expenditures, establishing rates for services, and coordinating financial reporting.
• Maintain awareness of advances in medicine, computerized diagnostic and treatment equipment, data processing technology, government regulations, health insurance changes, and financing options.
• Establish work schedules and assignments for staff, according to workload, space, and equipment availability.
• Monitor the use of diagnostic services, inpatient beds, facilities, and staff to ensure effective use of resources and assess the need for additional staff, equipment, and services.
• Direct or conduct recruitment, hiring, and training of personnel.

How to become one

Medical and health services managers typically need a bachelor's degree to enter the occupation; however, education requirements may vary. Prospective managers also typically need work experience in an administrative or clinical role in a hospital or other healthcare facility.

Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

• Apprenticeship: Home Health Director.
• Apprenticeship: Long Term Care Nurse Management.
• Apprenticeship: Senior Housing Manager (Cb).
• College: Health & Public Health degrees, Offered by 29 universities in the US
• College: Medicine & Dentistry degrees, Offered by 23 universities in the US
• Licence: A licence is required in 46 states.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Median pay: $123,860 a year The middle half earn $94,700 to $166,100.
• About 640,400 people work in this job now, and about 795,500 are projected by 2035. (+24.2%)
• People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Medical and Health Services Manager?

Medical and health services managers typically need a bachelor's degree to enter the occupation; however, education requirements may vary. Prospective managers also typically need work experience in an administrative or clinical role in a hospital or other healthcare facility.

How much does a Medical and Health Services Manager earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $123,860 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $94,700 to $166,100.

Is a Medical and Health Services Manager a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 24% by 2035, from about 640,400 to about 795,500 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Medical and Health Services Manager?

Usually. 65% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Medical and Health Services Manager?

People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Sources

• Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.